Fluid-clutch.



LU FL-QAEQQ J. H. DGDSON.

FLUID CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 1907.

Patented 00$. 29, 1M2.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR A TTORNE Y Elli JOSEPH H. DODSON, 01E CHICA CHICAGO,

FL I in ora-are.

XLLINOTS, ASSIGNGB W C ILLINOIS.

"(specification of Letters Patent.

:E 7 H. AIDDMQH, 0F

CECE.

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Application filed. December 5, 190?. Serial E0. 405,155.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOSEPH H. DODSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chlcago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Fluid Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

The objectof my a simple, practical, positive and rel able connecting mechanism between a driving shaft of a motor, engine or other power supplying means, and a driven shaft or other appliance or device for applying the produced power for the use or purpose desired or intended, and which will vperform the ofiice of transmitting the power without any jar or concussion in making the connection or changing the speed and by which the speed can be reduced or increased without any trouble or inconvenience and without injurious efiects in making the change.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinaiter described and claimed.

in the drawings illustrating the invention, Figure l is a sectional plan view; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail iii-section of the closed or head end of one of the liquid pressure cylinders; and Fig. 4c is a detail in section showing a modification in the construction of the cylinder or drum, in which the peri'heral wall and one of the end or side we 5 are termed integral.

In carrying out my or drum A capable .of containing a liquid, such as glycerin or oil for instance, is employed. This cylinder or drum A is constructed of metal or other suitable material, and has a peripheral wall a and a side or end wall a, and, as shown in Fig. it, each end wall has on its inner face an annular flange orrim a against which abuts a rim of of the peripheral wall so as to torm'a pen fectly tight joint between the peripheral wall and the side or end wall; and, as shown in Fig. 1, the peripheral and side or end walls are made separate and united by suit-' able lag or other bolts (1 and, as shown in Fig. 4, the peripheral and one of the side or end walls are made in one piece or integral. The peripheral wall has attached thereto at regular intervals apart inner cylinders B each of which has operating therein a piston or plunger G, and, as shown, three cylinders invention is to construct B are .ployed each having a piston or plunger. Each cylinder at the outer end or end adjacent to the peripheral wall has ,a closed end or head B with flanges or ears through which bolts pass attaching the cylinderto the wall. The head or closed end B of each cylinder has therein, in the construction shown, ports or passages 72 parallel with the axial line of the inner cylinder and connecting with a transverse or cross passage 5 in the end of the head or closed end, which passage at both ends opens into the chamber of the cylinder or drum so as to furnish communication between the interior of the cylinder or drum A and the exterior thereof, in the cylinder B by means of the passages in the head or closed end of the cylinder. Each piston or plunger has on its outer :tace ears 0 between which is pivoted, by a suitable bolt or pin a, the end of a connecting rod D, the other end of which has an eyed entered onto a wrist pin e of a crank arm E, which arm is attached to the crank or other driving shaft F of the englue or motor by a spline f so that the revolving of the shaft F revolves the crank .arni E and through the connecting rods l) reciprocates the several pistons or plungers in their respective cylinders.

A sleeve .6: surrounds the shalt F and is slidable thereon, and this sleeve and the shaft project through a suitable bearingor journal box-on one of the side orend heads or plates-of the cylinder or drum. The pro invention, a cylinder iectin end or the sleeve G has a circumferential groove in which is located a ring g .to which is pivoted the fork h of a lever H, pirated to a support H ,by a suitable pin or pivot .fz/so that the movement of .the lever will slide the sleeve G in and out on the shaft. The end of the sleeve which lies within the cylinder .or drum A. has a circumferential groove which receives a ring 9 having thereon a series of cars, correspond- .ing innurnber to the numberot cylinders B,

-.and between each pair or set of ears is pivvoted, bya suitable pin or pivot 2', one end of a lever or arm I mounted by a pin or pivot i, one. bracket or support I attached to the end or side wall of the cylinder or drum A,

so that the lever will tilt or oscillate on its pivot with the reciprocating movements of the sleeve. The outer or free end of each lover or arm I is connected by a suitable pin or pivot i with the end of a cut-0d rod or Sill you

llti

fit

side valve 5 entered into a transverse hole j radially disposed through the head or closed end of the cylinder B, whioh cut-oif rod or side valve has radial ports or openings j coinciding with the ports or passages b when the parts are normal, so as to leave a full, clear passage between the transverse passage in the head or closed end of the cylinder and the interior of the cylinder through the passages or ports I; and j, which opening or passage will be diminished by the movement of the cut-0d rod or stem so as to cause theports j to peripherally pass the openings or passages Z; reducing the size of the opening to the extent of the inward movement of the cut-ofi rod or stem and thereby reducing the amount of liquid drawn into and expelled from each cylinder by the operation of its piston or plunger.

The cylinder or drum A, at the axial center thereof, has attached to one of its heads a a shaft or spindle K, and, as shown, the shaft or spindle passes through a hub or boss on the side or end head and is secured therein by a spline hand the end of. the shaft or spindle which projects into the interior of the cylinder or drum has thereon a collar or ring is, attached by a set screw or. otherwise and abutting against the wall of the head. This shaft K revolves with the cylinder or drum, and, as shown, its outer end has fixed thereon a bevel ear- L for transmitting the power produce by the revolution of the cylinder or drum, for which impose a bevel gear corresponding to the evel gear L'may be employed, and it is to be understood that instead of a bevel gear connection any other suitable and well known driving connection may be employed The partsare assembled by attaching the controlling cylinders B to the peripheral wall of the'cylinder or drum and inserting a. piston or plunger 6 in eachcylinder. The

' connecting rods D are attached one to eachpiston or plunger I and entered onto the wrist pin 6' of the crank arm E;' The sleeve Gr is entered into the bearing therefor on the endor side head or plate of the cylinder;

the rm 9 is inserted in the groove there-' for in t e collar; the arms or levers are connected with the ring and attached by the bracketsto the side or end head or plate and the free or outer end of each lever is connected with the cut-off rod or stem therefor, which cut-0d rod or stem has been entered into the cylinder head or closed end, and the head or plate having the sleeve and the parts connected therewith attached thereto is attached to the peripheral wall or lever, if made separate therefrom, by bolts or otherwise. The shaft F has entered thereonto the sleeve G and its end has keyed or otherwise fastened thereto the crank; the

ring 9 is entered into the groove therefor in'the sleeve, and the lever H is connected noaaaio liquid, such as glycerin or oil, which liquid is drawn into and forced out from the controlling and regulating cylinders B by the reciprocating movements of the pistons or plungers of such cylinders. The revolving of the shaft F revolves the crank-arm E and the revolution of the crank arm operates the pistons or plungers of the several cylinders, and with the revolution of the shaft and crank arm the cylinder or drum will be revolved and the speed at which the cylinder or drum revolves is controlled and governed by the induction and eduction of the liquid into and out from the cylinders. The induction and eduction of the liquid into and out from the cylinders is regulated and controlled by vthe position of the cut-off rods or stems J with their ports in relation to the ports or passages in the heads or closed ends of the cylinders. With the ports or passages of the cut-0d rods or stems and the heads or closed ends of the cylinders in line, leaving the full capacity of the-ports or passages for induction and eduction the speed of the drum or cylinder transmltted thereto from the driving shaft will be the minimum speed, governed by the rapidity with which the hquid is drawn into and 'educted from the controlling-cylinders. An

increase of speed is attained by moving the lever or arm H in a direction to move the sleeve C outward, which movement of the sleeve moves the attached ends of the levers or arms I outward or away from the controlling cylinders, moving the inner ends of the arms or levers l inward or toward the controlling cylinders, causing the ports or passages j to pass the ports or passages Z) more or less, according to the extent of movement of the arms or levers l; and such passing of the ports or passages produces a reduced capacity for the induction and eduction of the liquid, and such reduction in capacity results in an increase of speed for the cylinder or drum, owing to the increased length of time required for drawing the liquid into and educting the liquid from the controlling cylinders. The movement of the arms or levers I to an extent sufiicient for the cut-off stems or rods to entirely close the ports or passages b, prevents the passage of the liquid into and out from the cylinders and locks the pistons or plungers against any reciprocating movement so that the rotation of the cylinder or drum will be coincident with the rotation of the shaft. The rotation of the cylinder or drum-revolves the shaft or spindle axially connected to one of its heads and imparts the speed of the cylinder or drum to the shaft or spindle for transmitting power thereto. It will be seen that the speed at which the cylinder or drum is driven is regulated and controlled by the induction and eduction of liquid into and out from the controlling cylinders, and that the rapidity of the induction and eduction of the liquid regulates and controls the reciprocating movement of the pistons or plungers of the controlling cylinders, so that a perfect regulation and control of the power transmitting mechanism is secured by and through the medium of a noncompressible liquid. The non-compressible liquid, owing to its nature, enables the regulation of the speed to be accomplished without any jar or concussion and the liability of injury to the mechanism and the parts operated therefrom or thereby is'reduced to a minimum.

The mechanism is exceedingly simple in construction and will be found effectual and reliable for the purpose intended; and by its use the speed can be readily and quickly changed without any danger of causing injury or ill effects to the parts in making the change.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A power transmitting mechanism comprising .an outer cylinder adapted-to contain a non-compressible liquid, a plurality of inner cylinders arranged radially within the outer cylinder, said inner cylinders having outer heads contiguous to the inner surface of the perimeter of said outer cylinder, said heads having ports communicating with the interior of said inner cylinders, said heads also having transverse passages therein communicating with said ports and with the exterior of said inner cylinders,

each said cylinders having a transverse hole theret-hrough in communication with said ports, a slide valve having radial openings therethrough and movably seated in said transverse hole with the said openings normally registering with said ports, a piston in each inner cylinder, a shaft, a crank on said shaft, connecting rods between said crank and pistons, a sleeve slidably seated on said shaft, a lever pivotally connected at one end to said. sleeve and at the other end to said slide valve and pivoted intermediately to a bracket, and means connected to said sleeve for moving the same longitudinally of the shaft and thereby controlling the flow of liquid through the slide valve.

2. A power transmitting mechanism com prising an outer cylinder adapted to contain liquid, an inner cylinder closed by a head at one end and disposed parallel with a radial line of the outer cylinder and removably secured to the inner surface of the outer cylinder, said head having a transverse pas sage therein and having ports communicating with said passage and with the interior of said inner cylinder, a hole through said head intersecting said ports, a cylindrical slide valve in said hole, said slide valve having radially disposed openings therethrough, said openings being adapted to register with said ports, a piston in the inner cylinder, means for actuating the piston, and means for sliding the slide valve.

3. 'A power transmitting mechanism comprising an outer cylinder adapted to contain liquid, an inner cylinder closed by a head at one end and disposed parallel with a radial line of the outer cylinder and secured to the inner surface of the outer cylinder, said head having ports 'therethrough communicating with the interior and exterior of said inner cylinder, said head having a hole therethrough intersecting the said ports, a slide valve having openings therein, said slide valve being movably seated within said hole with the openings normally registering with said ports, a piston in said inner cylinder, means for actuating said piston,

and means for moving the slide valve for regulating the flow of liquid through the said ports.

4. A power transmitting mechanism comprising an outer cylinder adapted to contain liquid, an inner cylinder closed by a head at one end and removably secured to the inner surface of the outer cylinder, said head having a passage therein and having ports communicating with said passage and with the interior of said inner cylinder, a hole through said head intersecting said ports, a slide valve in said hole, said slide valve having openings therein, said openings being adapted to register with said ports, a piston in the inner cylinder, means for actuating the piston, and means for sliding the slide valve.

JOSEPH H. DODSON.

Witnesses: 4

C. M. BURNAM, A. NELSON. 

